Rectrix spreads its wings

The purchase of a Westfield aviation company has given Rectrix a presence at its fourth Massachusetts airport.

By ROBERT GOLD

capecodtimes.com

By ROBERT GOLD

Posted Jan. 9, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By ROBERT GOLD

Posted Jan. 9, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

The purchase of a Westfield aviation company has given Rectrix a presence at its fourth Massachusetts airport.

Bedford-based Rectrix announced Tuesday that it bought AirFlyte Inc. in a cash deal. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Rectrix has fixed-base operations centers, known as FBOs, at Barnstable Municipal Airport and in Sarasota, Fla. Its headquarters are at Hanscom Field in Bedford and it plans to open an FBO there this year, said Rectrix CEO Richard Cawley. It also is expanding an FBO in Worcester, with work done this year.

The purchase of AirFlyte gives the company an FBO at Barnes Regional Airport. AirFlyte's staff of 27 will remain, Cawley said.

Rectrix Commercial Aviation Services employs more than 80 people he said, including 8 to 14 at the Hyannis FBO, depending on the season. The Hyannis location includes hangar space, light maintenance operations and space for passengers or those using the spot for their own jets.

AirFlyte has a repair station that allows it to do heavier maintenance on corporate jets under its Federal Aviation Administration license, Cawley said.

Rectrix plans on applying for satellite operations through the FAA, which would allow it to do more maintenance work in Hyannis and elsewhere.

"Maintenance is a big part of the general aviation business sector," he said.

The Bedford company's revenue increased about 10 percent from 2011 to last year, Cawley said, as more people are flying its jets. The company owns two and leases another two, with hopes of buying another 10 by the start of 2014, he said. It owns a Bombardier Learjet 45XR and a Bombardier Challenger 300, both of which are used in charter operations.

"The economy is coming back slowly, methodically," Cawley said. "In this type of environment, it's a good time to expand — expand what you have. Anytime the economy is on the upswing, it's always a good time to be expanding. Therefore, when the economy is rolling around very nicely, you are already established."